Michael Bisping Doesn’t Mince Words When Asked About Worst in MMA
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping has never shied away from speaking his mind. His trademark bluntness was once again on display in a recent interview with Carl Froch. When asked about the nicest person in MMA, Bisping’s answer comes as no surprise. He chose Georges St. Pierre, the all-time legend who is unanimously regarded as a class act in and out of the octagon. Froch then pivoted to the counter-question: “Who is the biggest knob-end in MMA?” This answer was unsurprising as well, and the British UFC legend targeted a man for whom he has a very personal animosity: Vitor Belfort.
Bisping Gives Explanation for Choosing Belfort
For anyone familiar with Michael Bisping’s history, his answer comes as no surprise. He’s always been plain about his lack of respect for Vitor Belfort, going so far as to call him “a piece of s***” years ago. The results of their 2013 fight are a significant part of the equation. Belfort won by TKO in the second round after landing a clean head kick and some follow-up ground-and-pound. However, Bisping isn’t just bitter because he lost: lingering injuries from that beating caused him to eventually lose his eye. Vitor’s long history of failed drug tests adds additional animus to The Count’s ire.
In response to the question, Michael Bisping focused on the use of illicit testosterone as the main motivation, eye injury notwithstanding:
“Vitor Belfort, a Brazilian steroid machine. One of the biggest cheats in all the sport. If you’re gonna step into a cage or a ring with another human being, it’s supposed to be about who’s the better fighter, who’s willing to train their ass off. This prick was on every steroid under the sun.”
A Tainted Legacy
Vitor Belfort is a legend of the sport and had an incredibly long and successful career. However, in the eyes of many fans and fighters alike, his use of supplemental testosterone compromises that legacy. Jon Jones has also publicly stated that Belfort had unfairly elevated testosterone for their fight, which is a bit ironic considering Jones himself faces significant scrutiny and backlash over his own mixed results in past drug testing.
Michael Bisping, however, was always a firm believer in doing things the right way. He’s been very vocal in his opposition to any attempts to skirt the rules, especially regarding banned substances. Jon Jones and Anderson Silva have also been targets of his criticism in the past. His hatred for Vitor Belfort is in a league of its own, though; it cost him something personally, and Belfort got away with it. Perhaps the best revenge is living well. After the loss, Bisping went on to become the Middleweight Champion, overcoming his compromised vision to become one of the greatest English fighters of all time. He doesn’t often go out of his way to put Belfort on blast, but if pressed, you can trust he’ll speak his mind.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
